Tourism in Uganda and Rwanda

Both Uganda and Rwanda are found in East African community and their economies are based on tourism as a major income generating sector.

Both countries have booming tourism sectors strengthened by the presence of Mountain Gorillas. The Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Forest national park in Uganda hosts mountain gorillas.

Both Countries also host Chimpanzees – the chimps are considered as our close relatives and the second thought for option after Gorilla trekking. Rwanda’s chimpanzees are found in Nyungwe Forest national park while in Uganda, the chimps are found in Budongo forest, Kyambura Gorge, Kibale forest national park and semliki national park.

Both Rwanda and Uganda are neighboring countries which makes it easier for the tourists to combing the two nations. Some of the safari itineraries are combing safaris in Rwanda and Uganda.

Rwanda and Uganda are politically stable to create a favourable ground for tourism to prevail.

Mountain Gorilla trekking is the major tourism activities in both Uganda and Rwanda, followed by Chimpanzee trekking.

Differences between Uganda and Rwanda Tourism sector:

Uganda’s tourism sector is based on ten national parks: kidepo Valley national park, Murchison Falls national park, Kibale forest National park, Mountain Rwenzori national park, Semliki National park, Mountain Elgon National park, Lake Mburo National park Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park and Mgahinga Forest national park while Rwanda is tourism sector based on three national parks including Akagera national park, Nyungwe Forest National park and Volcanoes national park.

Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is the government arm responsible for all tourism activities in Rwanda likewise Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest currently hosts Fourteen mountain gorilla groups while Volcanoes National park with ten habituated mountain gorillas.

Gorilla habituation is done in Uganda (4hours viewing Gorillas) while Rwanda has no Gorilla habituation activity at the moment.

Uganda has two parks where Gorilla trekking is conducted (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park and Mgahinga National park.

Uganda has five trekking centres namely: Buhoma sector, Ruhija sector, Nkuringo Sector, Rushaga sector and the one in Mgahinga National park.

In Rwanda, Game drive is only done in Akagera National park while in Uganda; game drive is done in Kidepo valley National park, Murchison falls national park, Lake Mburo National park, Semliki national park.